U.S. Marshals, Miami-Dade PD Arrest Suspect in 2006 Murder of U of Miami Football Player

Gainesville, FL – The U.S. Marshals-led Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF), working with the Miami-Dade Police Department, arrested today a man charged with the murder of University of Miami football player Bryan Pata, who was shot and killed Nov. 7, 2006, outside his apartment complex in Kendall after leaving team practice earlier that day. He was 22 years old.

Rashaun Jones, 35, was taken into custody without incident outside his pace of employment in Ocala.

Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide obtained the homicide warrant for Jones Aug. 17, and Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force investigators developed information placing Jones in the Ocala area. Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force personnel from the task force's Gainesville Office conducted the arrest operation.

Created July 1, 2008, the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force is composed of law enforcement officers from federal, state and local agencies. Its mission is to locate and apprehend fugitives, with priority given to those wanted for violent crime.